Signature Theatre News

The Muny announced principal casting for the first show of its spectacular 96th season, Billy Elliot the Musical, directed by Steven Minning, choreographed by Alison Levenberg, with music direction by Colin Welford. Billy Elliot the Musical is sponsored by BMO Harris Bank.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, April 20, 2014.

A 'crazy talented cast' brings the Leiber and Stoller songbook to life once again when Arena Stage presents SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE April 25 through June 8 in the Fichlander Stage. Director Randy Johnson and choreographer Parker Esse talked with BroadwayWorld's Jeffrey Walker about their vision for the show.

Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller comes to Arena Stage April 25 to June 8, 2014. Part 1 of our interview with director Randy Johnson and choreographer Parker Esse looks at the legacy of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's collaboration and impact on the rock and roll era.

Playwright Paul Downs Colaizzo made a name for himself during New York City's 2012-13 season when the MCC presented his play REALLY REALLY. When it premiered in 2012 at The Signature Theatre, it garnered a ton of buzz, selling out the entire run. In New York, the run was extended twice and also sold out the entire run. Now, Black Lab Theatre is producing an exhilaratingly intense production of the play for Houston audiences to enjoy.

Rattlestick Playwrights Theater's Artistic Director David Van Asselt and Managing Director Brian Long have announced that following strong reviews, the world premiere of Ode to Joy, written and directed by Craig Lucas, ends its run today, April 19 at the Cherry Lane Theatre, 38 Commerce Street.

Prince George's Little Theatre will present Ken Ludwig's ingenious "The Fox on the Fairway" at the Bowie Playhouse at White Marsh May 2-18. The performances on Friday and Saturday evenings May 2-3, 9-10, and 16-17 are at 8 p.m. The Sunday May 4, 11, and 18 performances are 2 p.m. matinees. Tickets are $20 ($15 for seniors and those 18 and under). For more information, call 301-937-7458.

Obie Award-winner Les Waters will direct the world premiere of Jordan Harrison's profound and engaging "Marjorie Prime" at the Center Theatre Group / Mark Taper Forum, September 10 through October 19, 2014. The opening is set for September 21.

Yale Repertory Theatre, in a co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, presents the world premiere of The House that will not Stand by Marcus Gardley, directed by Patricia McGregor. The House that will not Stand will be performed at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street) today, April 18-May 10. Opening Night is Thursday, April 24.

A diverse cast of thirteen join Noor Theatre Artistic Director Lameece Issaq, Executive Director Maha Chehlaoui, and Producing Artistic Director Nancy Vitale for the world premiere of The Myth Project. This director-driven workshop production in three parts from Director/Writers Kareem Fahmy, Noelle Ghoussaini, and Pirronne Yousefzadeh, runs in repertory from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 4 at New York Theatre Workshop's 4th Street Theatre.

Second Stage Theatre kicks off the 2014 Uptown Series with the New York premiere of AMERICAN HERO, written by Bess Wohl and directed by Leigh Silverman. AMERICAN HERO will feature ARI GRAYNOR (2ST Trust), DAOUD HEIDAMI (Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo), JERRY O'CONNELL (Seminar) and ERIN WILHELMI (The Great God Pan). Previews begin Monday, May 12th and opening night is Thursday, May 22nd.

Interrobang Theatre Project has announced its 2014/15 Sseason! Bridging continents and 43 years of theatre history, ITP's 5th Season brings together the first professionally produced plays that launched the careers of two distinctive contemporary playwrights: OWNERS (1972) by the now legendary, groundbreaking British playwright Caryl Churchill and REALLY REALLY (2013) by the tenacious 27-year-old American playwright Paul Downs Calaizzo. These two productions share a common concern with issues of power, entitlement, politics, economics and gender and their critically acclaimed premieres heralded Churchill and Calaizzo, respectively, as writers to watch, bold new voices with their fingers of the pulse of their generation.

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife. Click below to watch a foreboding promo for the show!

force/collision announces its current performance project, Jarman (all this maddening beauty) will be livestreamed on HowlRound TV on April 20th at 4:00pm. Inspired by queer avant-garde artist, activist and filmmaker, Jarman (all this maddening beauty) invades the mind and artistic aesthetic of Derek Jarman (The Last of England, Sebastiane, The Tempest) to create a poetic and visually dynamic mash-up of video and live performance. This project will premiere in 2014 to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Jarman's death.

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre announces the cast for The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife. Scroll down for a first look at the cast!

This May Bricken and Birch Productions is pleased to present Vacation- All I Ever Wanted!, directed by Lori Kee as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity 2014. The Festivity will take place May 12 through June 8 at the Paradise Factory.

NextStop Theatre Company's new production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, running May 1-June 1, 2014, makes a major announcement for the season-closing production. Directed by NextStop's Artistic Director Evan Hoffmann, the production team is announcing the addition of TODAY Show Co-Host, Kathie Lee Gifford, as the voice of the Giant's Wife. The addition of Ms. Gifford is a significant achievement for the emerging company as they close out their inaugural main stage season.

Broadway vet and singing sensation Alysha Umphress - fresh off her starring turn as Cee Cee in the World Premiere of Beaches (Signature Theatre) - joins the line up.

theatreWashington today kicks off its celebratory theatreWeek (April 14 - 20, 2014), offering countless opportunities for both lifelong patrons and reticent newbies to explore Washington's diverse professional theatres-from discounted performances to ticket giveaways and promotions to behind-the-scenes events. A joint endeavor with presenting sponsor The Washington Post, the Washington theatre community, Destination DC, and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the campaign spotlights Washington-area theatre through a regional ad campaign, to be seen by millions. The celebration culminates with the 30th Annual Helen Hayes Awards on April 21 at the National Building Museum.

Upcoming Equity Auditions from Sunday, April 13, 2014.